CUAMI is being asked to support: Better Priorities Initiative
CUAMI is being asked to support:
Better Priorities Initiative
Better Priorities Initiative – is a statewide campaign dedicated to ending the death penalty in Colorado.
CUAMI is being asked to be a supporter of this campaign. Where do you stand and do you have any concerns? Do you support CUAMI being a supporter of this campaign?
This proposal will close in two weeks.
Here are links to more info about BPI:
https://www.facebook.com/BetterPrioritiesInitiative?fref=ts
http://www.betterpriorities.org/
Thank you!
CUAMI Infrastructure Committee
Whitney Mon 6 Apr 2015 7:47PM
That's a good question Jo - what are the "better priorities" they'd prefer to put the money into?
Amy Kafuuma Tue 7 Apr 2015 3:48AM
Hey Jo, thanks for asking. I sent them an email, asking your questions as well as a few more that may help us all learn more about this campaign. I will share them as soon as I hear. THANK YOU!
Amy Kafuuma Wed 8 Apr 2015 12:55PM
I received a response about our questions for BRI. I am going to just "copy and paste" their response, please give me your feedback:
"Better Priorities Initiative is a newly formed campaign working toward death penalty repeal in Colorado. We have a steering committee with members from Coloradans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, ACLU of Colorado, Amnesty International, the Colorado Catholic Conference, and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar.
Right now we are currently not involved in putting legislation forward but are working on educating Colorado residents about the death penalty in hopes that we can move toward repeal in the near future. We are not advocating for a specific reallocation of funds at this time, though we certainly think many “better priorities” exist. Research has suggested that the higher costs of the death penalty (compared to life without parole) is something many voters have misconceptions about.
The campaign was formed to bring like-minded organizations statewide together to bring a stronger and clearer message for repeal. We also work with the 8th Amendment Project (a national repeal organization) to be part of the national movement toward ending the death penalty across the country.
Some other organizations that have signed on to support the campaign on our website are listed below. They aren’t up on the site yet because we wanted to have lots of names before we turn that particular page on.
•Alternate Defense Counsel
•Colorado Juvenile Defender Center
•Colorado Progressive Coalition
•National Association of Counsel for Children
•Pendulum Foundation
•Prax(us)
•Youth Transformation Center
•Doing Justice LLC"
I hope this answers some of your questions.
Jo Cusick · Sun 5 Apr 2015 12:35AM
I would feel better about adding support if I knew more about this organization. Who are their members? What kind of legislation are they planning to put through?
There is a lot of information evoking empathy on their page but I do not see any information about the group. I would like more info before adding our name to the list.